Bella Noche (Beautiful Night)

Chapter II

Zoro let out a small moan when Robin's hands slipped under his shirt and started to caress the strong muscles of his back. He pulled her tightly against him, their bodies fitting together like puzzle pieces. The idea both thrilled him and terrified him at the same time. He decided to simply focus on the moment and the feel of Robin's quivering body under his hands. Holding her close Zoro slowly bent her down until she was lying flat on the ground. He kept one arm underneath her neck so that her head wouldn't hit the floor.

He tried to stretch out beside her but only succeeded in smacking several limbs against the side of the crow's nest. He had forgotten where they were and the inconvenience of it. "Damn it." He swore, slightly embarrassed. Robin couldn't help but laugh as two patches of red appeared on Zoro's cheeks. "Don't laugh." He told her sternly but all he succeeded in doing was making her laugh even more. "You see, to be really enjoying my misfortunes tonight woman." He continued sulkily. He had pushed himself back up into a sitting position leaving her lying down, her body once again quivering, but this time it was from her efforts to cease laughing.

Zoro continued to pout, his back turned to her. Robin all of a sudden felt tired and since the mood had definitely been killed she decided it would be best to go back to bed. She stood up and walked over to where Zoro sat, leaning down she kissed his pouting lips and whispered goodnight. She was back on the deck before Zoro had time to process what had happened.

"Oi! Marimo head! Breakfast is ready." Sanji called up to Zoro the next morning. He stood slowly and stretched, he was not looking forward to seeing Robin. He had woken up thinking it had all been a dream but the blanket had been proof of her late-night visit. Slowly he made his way down to the deck and headed in the direction of the kitchen.

As he got closer he could hear Sanji's idiotic love prattle. "… made special just for you Nami-swan!" Zoro didn't hear any 'Robin-chan's' so maybe she wasn't in the kitchen after all. "Good morning Mr Swordsman" came the polite voice from behind him. He whirled around to see a composed Robin as she brushed past him and entered the kitchen. Zoro stood stunned for a minute; she had acted as if nothing unusual had happened last night. He didn't like to admit it but her reaction had hurt his pride. Well if she wanted to act like nothing happened then so could he. Feeling better he strolled into the kitchen.

Robin was sipping her coffee when Zoro finally entered the kitchen. She had thought that he had been hurt by her casual greeting this morning but she must have been imagining things because he surely did not seem to be the slightest bit upset. She was relieved, she didn't want to hurt the young swordsman's feelings but last night had been a mistake. He was several years younger than her for one thing and she simply didn't need any romantic entanglements especially since they'd be trapped together on the ship if anything were to go wrong.

"Oi Zoro, anything exciting happen last night?" Luffy asked as he stretched to snatch some of Usopp's breakfast right off his plate. Robin froze, her cup halfway to her lips. He wouldn't say anything would he? "Nothing at all, it was pretty boring." Robin would have believed him too if it hadn't been for the looks he stole in her direction on the last word. She almost laughed at the look of indifference he couldn't quite pull off.

The rest of the meal passed by normally with Luffy eating everything he could get a grip on and Usopp regaling Chopper with stories of his grand 'adventures'. The only difference was Zoro's silence. Now it wasn't that unusual for Zoro to keep quiet during meals but this was different. This was more of a pointed silence, for her benefit.

Later that day all was going as normally as it ever did aboard the Going Merry. Zoro was trying to get Robin off his mind by adding weight upon weight to the already fully loaded pole. When that didn't work he tried taking a nap but his mind, and often his gaze, kept drifting back to the raven haired beauty reading quietly at the table.

It came as a great relief when Luffy shouted "An island! I see an island Nami!" Shortly thereafter they were docked at the island and Luffy had torn off in search of food and adventure. "I'd better go after him, who knows what trouble he'll get into. Does he not realize the size the bounty on his head is?" Nami said with a sigh before heading off after her captain.

"Wait for me Nami-swan! I shall escort you." Sanji cooed, dashing after her. Robin had decided to stay behind with the ship, claiming she wasn't feeling well. That had worried Zoro but as part of his new plan he decided to push those worries aside and he went off in search of a bar.

Once Chopper and Usopp had left Robin went to her room to lie down. The truth was she was feeling fine and she just wanted some time to think and sort some things out. She was afraid that if she had gone into town with Nami she would pick up on her mood and question it too much. This morning at breakfast Zoro's silent treatment had been amusing and even a little endearing she had to admit. However as the day wore on she realized his continued silence was starting to upset her. Not that she thought that she didn't deserve it with the way she had left last night and then this morning's greeting.

Had she been too cavalier with his feelings? Did he actually care or was it just wounded pride that was causing him to lash out? She didn't have the answers to these questions and the whole ordeal was making her head to ache. She brought a hand up to her head in an attempt to massage away the tension.

"Robin! Are you alright? Should I get Chopper?" Robin opened her eyes to see none other than a certain green haired swordsman in her doorway. "Mr Swordsman? What are you doing here? I thought you had gone into town." She asked dropping her hand. "Well I had but when I was going to the bar I must have taken a wrong turn because I ended up here. Then when I didn't see you I thought maybe… well you had said you weren't feeling well so… I mean…" he stammered and Robin was touched by his concern. "Were you worried about me Mr Swordsman?" Robin asked and watched as she made him blush for the second time in the last 24 hours.

"Well if you're fine then I'll be going." Zoro said as he turned to leave. He never should have come in the first place. He should have just turned and went back into town. He was so wrapped up in mentally beating himself up that he almost didn't hear her next words.

"Please stay… Zoro."